Thread controlling means for weft replenishing looms



May 8, 195.1 A. c. KRUKoNls 2,552,099

THREAD coNTRoLLNG MEANS FoR wEFT REPLENISHING Looms Filed Feb. 4, 194'? INVENTOR ALEXANDER 0. KRUKON/S ATTORNEY Patented May 8, 1951 THREAD CNTROLLIN G MEANS FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Alexander C. Krukonis, Worcester, Mass., as-

signor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 4, 1947, Serial No. 726,257

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in thread cutters for weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of theinvention to provide a thread cutter or parter which will cut a thread the ends of which are acted upon by separate removing means neither of which is capable of removing the thread from the loom.

When hairy or coarse weft is used in weft replenishing looms it is found that the two threads remaining incident to a weft replenishing operation vare likely to be matted together subsequent to cutting at the selvage. If these two threads are acted upon by two pneumatic removing means, one for each thread, one of the threads will be improperly drawn into the pneumatic device which does not correspond to it, and will be subjected to the pneumatic attractive forces of bothl the devices neither of which is sufciently strong to overpower the other. Under these conditions the thread remains in the loom in such t position as to interfere with the eiiicient removal of threads left by subsequent replenishing operations.

One of the pneumatic devices ordinarily comprises a thread remover which moves from a normal inactive position to an operative position in Which it picks up a thread and then returns to normal position incident to each replenishing operation.- Selvage cutting can occur when the remover is in either of these positions. In order ,to insure cutting of one of the matted threads `it is another object of my invention to mount a cutter on the thread remover to move with the latter so that it will be in a position to cut thethread whether the remover be in normal or operating position.

In weft replenishing looms of the multicolor type two replenishing operations can follow each other in close succession and the possibility eX- ists that the selvage cutter will cut and mat together the threads of one transfer or replenishing operation at the time of a second replenishing operation. Under these latter conditions the remover would be in its operating position, but since the cutter is on the remover it will be in position to cut one of the threads which had been left by the first transfer. In such looms, however, the threads left by a replenishing operation may be cut at the selvage before the next replenishing operation, in which case the thread remover would be in its normal position. Under these conditions the cutter will be equally well placed for cutting since the cutter moves with the remover. It will be apparent therefore that the invention to be set forth hereinafter, al-

though adaptable to multicolor weft replenishing looms, is not limited in its use to looms of that type.

Many thread cutting mechanisms for weft replenishing looms are made with stationary and movable cutter blades requiring some form of operating mechanism for the movable blade. I have found, however, that a single cutter mounted stationary with respect to the thread remover and having a cutting edge properly disposed can be depended upon to cut the thread without requiring a second moving blade. This is due principally to the fact that the pneumatic attraction of the threads moves one of the latter against the cutter blade enabling the latter to cut it.

Weit replenishing looms of the type to which my invention more particularly relates generally employ a stationary hook for one of the threads. The thread which is improperly drawn into the remover extends from the latter to the hook, and it is another object of my invention to provide a cutter extending across a straight line from the hook to the thread remover in such position that when the thread remover tends to draw the thread straight due to pneumatic attraction the thread will engage and be severed by the cutter. The cutting edge may preferably be oblique with part of it disposed between the cloth selvage and the aforesaid straight line.

With these and-other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. l is aside elevation of part of a weft replenishing loom with the thread remover and thread cutter in normal raised inoperative position, parts being in section,

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. Vl is a horizontal'section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of certain parts shown in Fig. l, but with the thread remover and cutter lowered to operating position, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating the mode of operation of the invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the loom frame l0 supports a stand Il on which is mounted a reserve bobbin magazine M which may be of the multicolor type. A transferrer arm I2 is pivoted on a stud I3 carried by the stand II and is normally in the raised position shown in Fig. 1. At the time of a replenishing operation the transferrer arm is lowered in wellknown manner by a force derived from a bunter I4 on lay L.

The shuttle S is received by a shuttle box I5 mounted on the lay and having a front wall IB slotted as at I1 to receive a thread cutter I8. The cutter' is mounted on a lever I9 pivotally supported as at in such manner that when the transferrer arm I2 descends the cutter I3 will move rearwardly to sever a thread T extending from the shuttle to the selvage of the fabric F.

The loom frame I0 includes a breast beam 22 on which is mounted a temple 23 provided with a temple cutter 24 located close to the selvage of the fabric F. The lay is reciprocated by connectors one of which is shown at 25 and has extendinf,T thereacross between the shuttle box and the temple cutter a strip 26 of deformable material, such as plush, on which the thread T rests when the shuttle is in box I5.

The loom is provided with two pneumatic thread controlling devices one of which is a thread holder H and the other of which is a thread remover R. The thread holder H may be located as indicated in Fig. 2 and ordinarily has extending thereinto the weft ends not shown leading from the reserve bobbins in the magazine M. The thread remover R comprises a tube 39 connected by a hose 3l to some form of pump or the like which produces subatmospheric pressures. The holder H is also connected to this A pump. The tube 30 has extending therefrom a sheet metal fin or plate 32 which is supported by a forwardly extending elongated member 33 slidably mounted. on a carrier 34 pivotally mounted on stud I3. The member 33 is shown of tubular form in Fig. 3, but it does not form part of the pneumatic system other than to afford support for the remover R.

The carrier 34 has a depressing finger 35 for engagement with a stud 36 secured to the transferrer arm and overhanging the finger 35. A vertically reciprocating rod 31 rises each pick of the loom as the lay moves rearwardly to reset the carrier 34 should the latter be down. A hook 40 is mounted in fixed position on some stationary part of the loom frame and cooperates with a thread placer 4I on the lay.

In the operation of the matter thus far described the depleted shuttle S on a replenishing beat of the loom will be located in box I5 and the thread T extending from it to the selvage will be cut by the thread cutter` I8. Replenishment is effected by downward movement of the transferrer arm during which stud 36 will rock the carrier 34 from the normal raised position shown in Fig. l to the down operating position shown in Fig. 6. When the remover R is in the position shown in Fig. 6 a lip 42 thereof will be located behind the thread T and projected into the deformable material 26. At the same time one of the bobbins from the magazine M will be inserted into the shuttle and its weft end will extend from the thread holder H to the shuttle.

As the lay moves rearwardly subsequent to transfer lip 42 guides thread T toward the intake mouth 43 at the lower end of tube 30, and that part of thread T extending from the remover R toward the shuttle box will be drawn into tube 3E! by pneumatic suction, but the left hand part of this thread extends to and is attached to the selvage. On a subsequent forward beat of the lay placer 4I will engage the thread T' of the freshly transferred bobbin and cast it over hook 43 to the positions indicated in Figs. 5 2 and '7. This thread T will become attached to the cloth selvage on the forward beat of the lay next succeeding transfer, at which time the threads T and T will be disposed substantially as indicated in Figs. 2 and 7.

The matter thus far described is of known construction and may be as set forth for instance in prior Patents Nos. 2,199,296; 2,199,353 and 2,199,354.

When the threads T and T are coarse or have rough hairy surfaces they are likely to become matted together either prior to or incident to cutting at the selvage by the temple cutter 24. Under such conditions the left hand part of thread T will be drawn into the tube 30, and since it is attached by matting or adhesion to the left hand part of thread T' the latter will also enter the tube 30. Thread T will therefore be subjected to pneumatic attraction at each of its ends and cannot be removed from the loom by the pneumatic devices since neither is able to overcome the pneumatic attractive force of the other. It is an important object of my present invention to provide means for cutting that part of thread T extending from the hook 40 to the remover R, particularly by means of cutting mechanism which is rendered operative due to movement of thread T induced by the pneumatic suction within tube 30.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide a bracket 5E! having arms 5I and 52 joined by a base 53 which is clamped against the fin or plate 32 by means of a bolt or the like 54. The bolt extends through a slot 55 in the plate 32 and provides means for angular adjustment of the bracket on the plate 32. The bracket can also be moved toward and from the tube 30 because of slot 55.

The arms 5I and 52 support a carrier 60 by means of aligned screws or bolts 6I which afford angular adjustment of the carrier with respect to the bracket 5E). The carrier has a base plate 62 on which is mounted a thin cutter blade or thread parter 53 having a cutting edge 54 which projects beyond the base plate 62 toward the 60 fabric F. Small pins 65 on the base plate 62 enter notches S6 in the ends of the cutter blade 53 to hold the latter in position on the carrier 65.

Spring arms 553 may be used to press the cutter G3 vdown against the base plate 62. These arms 55 may be mounted as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 and permit the blade to be slipped into position for engagement with the pins 65, after' which the spring arms will hold the blade as described.

The cutter blade 83 is mounted as shown in Fig. 7 with respect to the remover R and the hook 4B with part at least of its cutting edge 64 projecting somewhat to the left in a straight line drawn from the hook 4I! to the intake mouth 43.

When the temple cutter 2Q ultimately cuts the 55 threads T and T' from the selvage several picks after transfer and leaves them matted together, the thread T upon being drawn into the'tube 30 as already described will engage the cutting edge 64 as indicated for instance in Figs. 3 and 8.

The thread T during movement from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 8 is likely tosag slightly so that it engages the cutting edge 64 at a comparatively low level and moves up said edge when being drawn into the tube 3Q. DuringY 7e this movement the thread T will move from the position a, tothe position b, Figs. 3, v4 and 8 along the cutting edge $4 to be Ysevered thereby. That part of the thread T extending into the tube 3G Willthen be drawn away from the lcom by the remover R, and the other part of thread Tf will eventually be removed by the holder E which, in addition to serving as a thread holder, also acts as a pneumatic thread remover.

Asseen in Fig. 5 the cutterSS is disposed in an inclined position and the cutting edge not only extends across a straight line between the hook and the remover Ras already described, but also above and below the position which the thread T' ultimately assumes when drawn taut `from the hook to the tube 39.

From the previous description it will be understood that the remover R is in the raised position shown in Fig. l throughout most of the loom operation but will be in the down operatingr position shown-in Fig. 6 on replenishing beats of 'the loom.

During backward movement of the lay subsequent to transfer the rod 3l rises to return the remover R to its 'normal position. Whether in normal raised or operating lowered position the blade 83 will be inclined with respect to a line joining the hook 46 and mouth 33. This inclination of cutting edgett may be less when the remover is down than when up, but will nevertheless be suicient to cause thread T to engage the cutting edge. The blade E3 istherefore seen to be eifectiveto cut the thread T whether the remover R be in its higher or low position, and as shown herein this result is attained by mounting the cutter blade 63 on the` plate $2, which, for the purposes oi this description, may be considered aspart of the remover mechanism R.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple means by which pneumatic action drawing a thread into the tube 3e will cause the thread to engage cutting edgel G4 and be cut by it. It will further be seen that the cutter blade is mounted on and moves with the remover R and is therefore in operating position whether the temple cutter 24 operates while the remover R is in high or low position. It will also be noted that the cutter blade is so mounted that it can be adjusted angularly about the axis of bolt 54 to change the inclination of the edge 84 and can be adjusted about the studs 6l to alter the cutting edge with respect to a straight line drawn from the hook to the intake mouth of tube eil. Furthermore, the cutter blade is so mounted that it can be readily removed, and carrier 5i! can be adjusted toward and from intake mouth d3.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

l. In a weft replenishing loom, pneumatic thread remover means, pneumatic thread holder means, and thread cutting means, the loom having a thread extending into the holder means and remover means and pneumatically drawn against the thread cutting means by cooperation of said pneumatic means, thereby causing the thread cutting means to sever the thread, whereupon each pneumatic means draws thereinto that part of the thread extending therefrom to the thread cutting means.

2. In a weft replenishing loom, pneumatic threa-d remover means, pneumatic thread holder means, a thread hook, and thread cutter means between the hook and remover means, the :loom having a thread extending from the holder means around Said hook and into the remover means and drawn pneumatically by joint action of said remover means and holder means against said thread cutter means, thereby causing the latter to sever the thread, whereupon each pneumatic means draws thereinto that part of the thread extending therefrom to the parting means.

3. In a weft replenishing loom, pneumatic thread remover means, pneumatic thread holder means, the loom having a thread extending from the cloth selvage into the remover means and having a second thread extending from the selvage into the holder means, thread cutting means, and a selvage cutter cutting said threads from the selvage in such manner that said threads cling together, whereupon the holder means and remover means by joint pneumatic action draw said second thread against said thread cutting means and cause the latter to sever said second thread, said pneumatic means thereupon removing the severed parts of the thread.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having a thread one end of which is held against movement toward the cloth, a thread remover intermediate said one end of the thread and the cloth and into which the other end of the thread is drawn by pneumatic action, and a thread cutter against which the thread is moved by said pneumatic action of the remover, said thread cutter thereupon severing the thread and the remover drawing thereintcthat part of the thread extending therefrom to the thread cutter.

5. AIn a weft replenishing loom, pneumatic thread remover means, pneumatic thread holder means, a selvage cutter, a thread hook between the selvage cutter and holder means, and a thread cutter means between the hook and remover means, the loom having a thread extending from the selvage to the remover means and having another thread extending from the selvage to said holder means and engaging said hook, the selvage cutter cutting said threads from the selvage in such manner that said threads cling together, whereupon the ends of the threads cut from the selvage are pneumatically attracted by each pneumatic means and are drawn into said remover means, said holder means and remover means and hook cooperating to cause said other thread to be drawn pneumatically against said thread cutter means and be cut thereby.

6. In a weft replenishing loom having two threads extending from the cloth selvage, pneumatic thread remover means into which one thread extends, pneumatic thread holder means into which the other thread extends, a selvage cutter, a thread hook between the holder means and selvage cutter engaging said other thread, and a thread cutter means between the hook and remover means, the selvage cutter cutting said threads from the selvage in such manner that said threads cling together, the remover means thereupon drawing thereinto said one thread and part of said other thread, the hook and both of said pneumatic means cooperating to cause said other thread to move against said thread cutter means and be cut thereby, whereupon each pneumatic means removes the part of said other thread extending thereinto.

7. In a weft replenishing loom having a thread remaining incident to a weft replenishing operation, holding means preventing movement of one end of the thread toward the cloth, a pneumatic thread remover into which the thread extends,

and a thread cutter on the remover against which the thread is moved by pneumatic action of the remover to effect severing thereof by the thread cutter.

8. In a weft replenishing loom having a thread one end of which is held against movement toward the cloth, a pneumatic thread remover into which the other end of the thread extends, said remover capable of assuming either of two positions, and a thread cutter on the remover, said remover effective in either position thereof to draw the thread pneumatically against said thread cutter to cause the latter to sever the thread.

9. In a weft replenishing loom having a thread remaining incident to a weft replenishing operation, holding means preventing movement of one end of the thread toward the cloth, a pneumatic thread remover capable of assuming two different psoitions in either of which the remover pneumatcally attracts the thread, and a thread cutter on the remover against which the thread is moved when being pneumatically attracted by the remover to cause severing of the thread by the thread cutter.

10. In a weft replenlshing loc-m having a thread remaining incident to a weft replenishing operation, holding means preventing movement of one end of the thread toward the cloth, a pneumatic thread remover into which the other end of the thread extends movable to assume two different positions in either of which the remover pneumatically attracts the thread, and a thread cutter against which the thread is moved pneumatically by the remover when the latter is in either position thereof to cause the thread cutter to sever the thread.

11. In a weft replenishing loom having a thread remaining incident to a weft replenishing operation, holding means preventing movement of one end of the thread toward the cloth, a pneumatic thread remover into which the other end of the thread is pneumatically drawn, and a thread cutter against which the thread is moved due to pneumatic attraction of the thread by the remover to eect severing of the thread by the thread cutter.

12. In a loom having two threads attached to the cloth selvage, holding means additional to the selvage for one of said threads, a selvage cutter cutting said threads from the cloth selvage in such manner that said threads are matted together, thread cutting means for said one thread, and pneumatic thread remover means for the other thread effective upon cutting of said threads by the selvage cutter to attract said threads pneumatically and cooperate with said holding means to move said one thread by pneumatic attraction thereof against said thread cutting means and causing the latter to cut said one thread.

ALEXANDER C. KRUKONIS.

REFERENCESA CITED Thev following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,199,296 Turner Apr. 30, 1940 2,199,353 Turner Apr. 30, 1940 2,199,354 Turner Apr. 30, 1940 2,336,321 Turner Dec. 7, 1943 2,448,161 Turner Aug, 31, 1948 

